With Cao Cao by my side, what do I have to fear from the world?

Chapter 172, Yan Liang is killed
Lu Bu was indeed a bit sleepy. Gan Ning, Zhao Yun, and others took turns sparring with Yan Liang, leaving Lu Bu, the strongest warrior, to watch from the sidelines like a bodyguard.

This was the task arranged by Liu Xie; if it had been anyone else, Lü Bu wouldn't have bothered with it.

Watching them fight out of boredom is indeed easy to make you sleepy; Lü Bu seemed to be in a hurry to get off work.

I just want to get rid of Yan Liang as soon as possible so I can go back.

We can't just let Yan Liang go back unharmed again.

"this?"

Yan Liang looked at Lü Bu, feeling a little flustered.

At the beginning, Yan Liang was very arrogant and confident that he had the strength to fight Lü Bu. However, after fighting Zhao Yun and Guan Yu one after another, Yan Liang was completely defeated.

In addition, Lü Bu was already famous throughout the world, and he stood out among all heroes at Hulao Pass. He only narrowly lost to the combined forces of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei. In one-on-one combat, Lü Bu was invincible.

Having been thoroughly beaten and rendered powerless, Yan Liang had no courage to challenge Lü Bu at all.

Yan Liang was so frightened that he could not even sit up straight. The unease and fear in his heart grew stronger as Lü Bu rode closer.

As for Chunyu Qiong, he was already terrified. Guo Tu didn't know how powerful Yan Liang was, but Chunyu Qiong did, and he knew it very well!
Chunyu Qiong was not convinced before. Relying on his seniority as one of the Eight Colonels of the Western Garden and a veteran by Yuan Shao's side, he did not take Yan Liang seriously. However, the two fought fair and square, and Chunyu Qiong could not even last thirty rounds against Yan Liang.

But today, even Gan Ning fought Yan Liang for more than eighty rounds, and Zhao Yun and Guan Yu were firmly in the lead. Chunyu Qiong could hardly imagine what this meant.

All I can say is that Hebei's strongest military general is nothing but a fart here today, being ridiculed and humiliated in public!

Red Hare slowly approached, and Lü Bu deliberately slowed down as he drew near, observing the changes in Yan Liang's expression.

Yan Liang was sweating profusely, his lips inexplicably became dry, and he couldn't help but swallow. In front of Lü Bu, he was as nervous as a rookie going into battle for the first time, and he was completely scared!

Boom boom boom!
On the walls of Baima City, a drum suddenly sounded loudly. When Lü Bu turned around, he became incredibly excited.

Suddenly, a cowhide war drum appeared on the city tower, and Liu Xie himself was beating it.

Cao Cao also left the city tower and was leading his men to gather in the city, ready to launch an attack at any time.

Zhao Yun and Guan Yu both defeated Yan Liang, so Lü Bu's victory was even more certain. Others might not be aware of Lü Bu's strength, but Cao Cao was very clear about it.

Because Cao Cao and Lü Bu had dealt with each other too many times.

As they drew closer, even Yan Liang's mount retreated a few steps, seemingly sensing the terrifying pressure emanating from Lü Bu.

Guan Yu's oppressive aura came from his imposing presence, while Lü Bu's oppressive aura came purely from his strength.

Lu Bu possesses overwhelming power!

Among men, Lü Bu is the best; among horses, Red Hare is the best!
"Yan Liang, what's wrong with you? Haha!" Yan Liang's fear and unease amused Lü Bu greatly; at this moment, he was like a judge who could decide life and death.

Lu Bu suddenly roared and accelerated, his Red Hare rapidly closing in. Yan Liang had no choice but to grit his teeth and charge forward, raising his sword with a heavy heart.

As soon as he got close, Lü Bu suddenly raised his halberd above his head and then brought it down with tremendous force, like a heavy hammer.

Yan Liang instinctively raised his sword to defend, and with a clang, their weapons collided without any doubt.

Lu Bu handled the situation with ease and composure, while Yan Liang exerted force with both hands and gritted his teeth. In just one exchange, Yan Liang had already felt the unshakeable and ferocious divine power.

The halberd swiftly changed direction, sweeping horizontally towards Yan Liang's waist, creating a whistling gust of wind.

Yan Liang hurriedly raised his sword to block, barely managing to block it, but he did not gain any advantage in terms of strength, which he had always had a strong advantage over.

Generally speaking, generals who are skilled at using broadswords have amazing arm strength and are very strong, but Yan Liang's strength was inferior to Lü Bu's.

Lu Bu was not only stronger than him, but his moves were also very sharp. The halberd in Lu Bu's hands was like flying, and he could attack and defend freely. No matter what move it was, Lu Bu could use it at will. The halberd was astonishingly powerful.

Clang!
Next, Lu Bu would sometimes smash his halberd against the broadsword, and sometimes thrust or stab, making it difficult for Yan Liang to cope. In terms of both strength and the sophistication of his moves, Lu Bu had the upper hand in every aspect.

The two fought back and forth, their warhorses circling overhead. As they battled, clouds of dust were kicked up by their hooves, but Lü Bu remained calm and composed throughout.

Yan Liang's face grew increasingly grim, his cheeks puffed out, his face flushed red, and his thumb and forefinger were almost split open from the shock. He had to be extremely careful, but even so, he still couldn't keep up with Lü Bu's pace.

After a dozen or so rounds, Yan Liang could barely hold on, but the dual depletion of his physical and mental strength made his movements slower and slower, while Lü Bu became faster and faster.

Suddenly, Lü Bu flicked his wrist, knocking Yan Liang's broadsword aside. In the blink of an eye, Lü Bu's halberd swept horizontally with a flick of his wrist, heading straight for Yan Liang's waist.

The speed was too fast, and Yan Liang had no time to dodge. With a bang, Yan Liang felt dizzy and his head buzzed. The whole world seemed to suddenly become chaotic. He also heard a crisp sound of bones breaking in his waist.

Lu Bu's attack was powerful and fierce, like a boulder crashing down. Yan Liang was immediately thrown off his horse and crashed heavily to the ground.

As soon as he landed, a mouthful of blood spurted from his mouth.

Seeing this, Chunyu Qiong knew things were going badly, but before he could do anything, Lü Bu smiled coldly and his halberd pierced Yan Liang's heart like a gust of wind. Yan Liang couldn't dodge at all, and he didn't even have a chance to get up from the ground.

"what!"

The intense pain caused Yan Liang's eyes to widen, his face contorted in a ferocious expression, and the Yuan soldiers behind him were also stunned.

What kind of general is he, and what kind of soldiers does he lead?
Yan Liang was always arrogant and looked down on others. Over time, the soldiers who followed him also became very arrogant and conceited. However, watching Yan Liang being killed by Lü Bu was a bloody and brutal scene that shocked everyone. Yuan's soldiers were all terrified and horrified.

Lu Bu glanced at Yan Liang with disdain, then swiftly drew his halberd, blood splattering as it took away Yan Liang's last vestige of life.

Then, Lü Bu, seemingly oblivious to everyone else, beheaded Yan Liang. Cao Cao led his army out in time, and his soldiers, like a flood bursting its banks, savagely attacked the terrified Yuan troops, quickly setting the stage for a massacre.

Cao Cao's iron cavalry roared, like a mountain torrent bursting forth, unstoppable. Xu Chu and Dian Wei's eyes were like unsheathed swords, gleaming with cold light.

The Han battle flags fluttered in the wind, and for a moment, the war drums thundered and the sounds of battle rose everywhere. Liu Xie, standing on the city wall, held onto the crenellations and looked at the Han soldiers who were like red flames. He couldn't help but feel a surge of heroic spirit.

The Han dynasty is associated with the element of fire in the Five Elements theory, so the main color of the army was red. The inner lining of the lining was red, the battle flag was red, many soldiers' battle robes were also red, and even the tassels on their spears and helmets were red.

At first glance, it looked like a red ocean, or like ten thousand feet of fire mercilessly sweeping towards the panicked Yuan soldiers.

Faced with such a formidable army of Cao Cao, Yuan Shao's soldiers were terrified, like a flock of lost lambs. Their eyes were filled with fear, and their resistance was so weak and feeble that it crumbled at the slightest touch. Their once orderly formation was quickly broken up by Cao Cao's army, turning into a pile of loose sand.

Cao Cao was also holding his breath. Today, Zhao Yun and Lü Bu had stolen all the limelight, and all of this was naturally due to Liu Xie.

Although Guo Jia didn't mind Liu Xie showing off, Cao Cao was still very concerned.

At this moment, Cao Cao took the lead, his eyes filled with ruthless killing intent, wanting only to vent his anger and turn the tide.

"Kill them all!" The Heaven-Slaying Sword was raised high, flashing a chilling light.

Xu Chu, Dian Wei, and others charged into Yuan Shao's ranks like tigers descending a mountain, their weapons flashing wildly and unleashing waves of merciless bloodshed.

Dian Wei and Xu Chu were also somewhat unconvinced, but they didn't have the chance to fight Yan Liang. In fact, in terms of strength, they were no less than Yan Liang.

Dian Wei wielded a massive iron halberd weighing eighty catties. The halberd was merciless; anyone who touched it was injured, and anyone who struck it was killed. Yuan's soldiers cried out in agony, their flesh and blood flying everywhere.

In Dian Wei's hands, the iron halberd was like a living thing, sometimes flipping, sometimes sweeping, sometimes thrusting straight, and each time it hit the enemy, it made a deafening sound.

Before Dian Wei, those Yuan soldiers seemed like scarecrows, allowing him to kill them at will. Their cries and pleas for mercy could not move Dian Wei's heart.

Xu Chu, mounted on his warhorse and wielding a broadsword, led Cao Cao's personal guards, the Tiger Guard, in a charge into battle. His broadsword gleamed in the sunlight, like a lightning bolt slicing through the sky. Yuan's soldiers, facing Xu Chu, were terrified and routed in disarray.

Xu Chu's broadsword clanged and clattered, each swing claiming the life of a Yuan soldier. The Yuan soldiers screamed in agony, blood and flesh flying everywhere—a scene straight out of hell. Xu Chu's broadsword was like the Grim Reaper's scythe, mercilessly reaping the lives of Yuan soldiers.

Seeing that Cao Cao's army was as fierce as wolves and tigers, and that Yuan's soldiers were fleeing in disarray, Chen Gong, who was standing next to Liu Xie, couldn't help but laugh.

"Your Majesty, it seems that everyone on Cao Cao's side is vying for power. Fengxian and Zilong have been making a great splash, which has made many people hold their breath, so they are all behaving extremely bravely."

Upon returning to the city wall, Lü Bu saw Chen Gong smiling so contentedly and couldn't help but say, "Gongtai, you've been by my side for so long, and I don't think I've ever seen you smile like this before."

In Lü Bu's memory, Chen Gong's smiles were extremely rare, which greatly puzzled Lü Bu.

Chen Gong said, "Fengxian, His Majesty is not like you."

Chen Gong couldn't bear to criticize Lü Bu to his face. After all, Chen Gong was like a father and mother to Lü Bu, worrying himself sick and heartbroken, but he still might not get the best outcome!
Lu Bu often contradicted him, and when he got angry, he would often stand his ground, making Chen Gong lose face and stomp his feet in anger.

In short, Chen Gong had no way to deal with Lü Bu. If Lü Bu listened to his suggestions, he should be thanking his lucky stars and burning incense in gratitude.

If Lü Bu doesn't listen, then things will get complicated. Chen Gong is upright and stubborn, and the more Lü Bu disobeys, the more persistent he becomes. As a result, the two will eventually have a heated argument that is difficult to resolve.

Liu Xie smiled gently, “Fengxian is straightforward and honest, and his words and deeds are consistent. He has caused Gongtai a lot of trouble before. However, it’s all in the past, and we should turn the page. Now, Cao Gong and I are both making positive contributions, which is very good.”

Liu Xie's performance, in turn, put pressure on Cao Cao. This healthy competition had immediate benefits, and Liu Xie did not reject it.

His relationship with Cao Cao is too complex to explain in a few words. The two were not on opposing sides; at least they shared the same goal of pacifying the world.

Seeing the situation was dire, Guo Tu ran faster than anyone else. Chunyu Qiong put up a hasty resistance for a while, but then gave up completely. Cao's army pursued them relentlessly, killing generals and capturing flags. In this battle, they killed no less than 5,000 enemies and captured more than 3,000 prisoners. They almost chased Yuan's army all the way to the Yellow River.

When Cao Cao returned to the city, Liu Xie had already ordered people to prepare food. While the soldiers ate, Liu Xie led his men to quickly treat the wounded.

Lin Tong, Li Erniu, and the other members of the rescue team were all personally assembled and promoted by Liu Xie, and they absolutely obeyed Liu Xie's orders.

Whether they were Cao Cao's soldiers or Yuan Shao's soldiers, Liu Xie demanded that they be treated equally and that anyone who was injured receive immediate medical treatment.

Liu Xie was directing everyone when he saw Dian Wei stride over, an arrow still stuck in his chest, bleeding profusely. The exposed shaft of the arrow was in the way, so Dian Wei had already broken it off.

Liu Xie couldn't help but tease, "Dian Wei, you're getting injured so often, come here quickly, let me take a look at you."

Dian Wei chuckled. "Your Majesty, please let someone else do it. How could we dare trouble Your Majesty to do it personally again?"

Liu Xie had saved his life and had treated Dian Wei's wounds many times. Over time, Dian Wei became embarrassed by these gestures.

Liu Xie glared at him. "What? A grown man like you has become so fussy today."

Without saying a word, Liu Xie pointed to the open space to the side. Dian Wei shrank his neck and walked straight over to sit down.

"If you are injured, don't force yourself to be. In my eyes, everyone is the same. No one is more noble than anyone else, and no one is more lowly than anyone else!"

The wounded Yuan soldiers were already deeply moved to see Liu Xie personally treating them, and upon hearing such heartwarming words, a dark-faced man immediately stood up and declared, "Your Majesty, I wish to follow you and serve as your bodyguard from now on."

The one who shouted was a prisoner of war from the Yuan army. As soon as he opened his mouth, he was ridiculed by many people.

"A prisoner of war, yet he dares to dream of becoming His Majesty's bodyguard."

"That's right, how could prisoners of war possibly serve as His Majesty's personal guards?"

(End of this chapter)